Do you eat exercise calories back when trying to gain weight?

KrazyKrissyy

I'm currently doing a bulk. High fiber/carb, medium protein, low fat. By the way, please don't lecture me on fat intake. I know fats are important but because of my IBD and GERD, I've been advised to decrease fats and increase fiber as I cannot metabolize fats well and am required higher fiber (40g) than the standard 25g. Anyways, this is my first bulk. My question is, do I consume all exercise calories back? Another question... As someone who has a history of undereating and small appetite, would my results still be the same if I were to eat under maintenance on some days but over maintenance by a lot on some other days?

MichelleLea122

If eating back exercise calories puts you in a surplus than yes. It doesn't really matter if you're over maintenance every day, as long as your weekly net is a surplus. I personally just ate around maintenance for the week, but ate whatever I wanted on the weekend.

Dnarules

If you are using mfp's calorie goal, then yes, you should eat back exercise calories. Otherwise, you could still be in a deficit. Also, you can eat up one day and lower on another day as long as you are in a surplus overall.

The important thing is it may take trial and error, depending on how well you've been tracking up to now.

comptonelizabeth

Another ibd and Gerd sufferer here so I sympathise!
I try to eat back exercise calories but they don't amount to much as I don't do a lot of cardio. My understanding is that it's OK to track calories over a week and that daily intake is less important as long as you are averaging a surplus.

lauamy96

I drink them back in protein shakes haha.